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Article GRAND MARK LODGE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article GRAND MARK LODGE. Page 2 of 2 Article GRAND MARK LODGE. Page 2 of 2 Article DUBLIN MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL. Page 1 of 2 →
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Grand Mark Lodge.
must necessarily be that the Grand Alaster is not so intimately acquainted with the Grand Ollicers as he would be if he were to appoint his own personal friends ; at the same time , I believe that for the good of the Order in general , it is much more advantageous that those who reall y know the merits of brethren scattered all over the
kingdom should send up those who are eligible for office in Grand Lodge . I only say this to show that I trust to the good feeling of the brethren , as much towards the oflice I hold and to the prestige that lies upon it , and those who have held it before me , as I do to the personal
feeling which I am proud to think man ) ' of you have towards me—some of you , doubtless , it is impossible you should have , knowing , as I do , that you are almost unacquainted with your Grand Master . At the same time , J . know that you so far trust the holders of this office that you
will support them witii thc utmost cordiality . I do not think I need further dilate upon the toast which you have just drunk so kindly . I will only say one word more on this subject , that you will find in me one who will try his utmost to benefit and advance the prosperity of the Order ,
and who will give his utmost attention to consulting the wishes of the brethren in any Masonic matter . I do not want to sit down without proposing-another health , one which , lam sure , you will drink with pleasure , and that is , "The Past
Grand Masters , and especially 1 shall couple with it the name of liro . Portal . ( Cheers . ) Thc prosperity of our Order , as we have beard tonight , is unexampled in the history of Freemasonry , considerintr that we are , under our
present organisation , somewhat a new one . And 1 wish to remind you , though doubtless you do not require to be reminded of it , that that prosperity is due to our Past Grand Masters . ( Hear , hear . ) They had consistently upheld the principles of our Order , and they have never been found wanting on any occasion when the interests
of the Order required their attention or their zeal . I may say in passing that I am sorry that tliere should be none of them , except our immediate Past Grand Master , present on this occasion ; but we are rather unlucky in the
choice ot a week for our lestival when every one is taking a holiday . I will pass now to the name which I shall covple with this toast . Bro . Portal has done more , 1 will say , to raise this Order to its present position than any other Past Grand Master who has held this chair . I do not
say that in an invidious sense , because 1 believe that , luckily for himself and Mark Masonry also , he succeeded to that chair at a time when energy , tact , and strict attention to the business of Mark Masonry were more than doubly necessary than at any other in the history of our Order . He has
raised this degree to that position which will compare with any degree , not excepting the Craft at the present moment—I say not excepting the Craft , because you must look not to the number of lodges , or at the number of Masons , but whether they are gootl men and true , whether
the Order is in a flourishing condition , and whether , considering the time that has elapsed since our organisation , our Grand Lodge was started we have not made wonderful progress—when I say progress , I think the goodness of our Masons and the . soundness of our
lodge , they will compare with any other body . The M . W . P . G . M . informed you this evening of the progress which Mark Masonry had made during his tenure of office . I do not know that I can add anything to it . I can only say what he did not say , which is , that it was to him , seconded by the efforts of his officers , that that
progress is entirel y due ; and 1 can only assure all Mark Masons that they will ever find in hirn a true friend , a good Mason , and one who will readily and kindly assist them in every AIasonic and social duty ; and I speak from experience . I ask you therefore to think this toast of " The Past Grand Masters , " and especially our Immediate Past Grand Master , Bro . Portal .
The Rev . G . Raymond Portal : — I have already detained you so long in Grand Lodge that J feel I ought not to say very much more now , except I thank you for the kindness with which you have received this toast , anil to assure you that I shall endeavour to make the only return in my power for the kindness that 1 have always experienced at your hands as Grand Master , and
Grand Mark Lodge.
also for this ivagnificent present , which you made me to-night—1 shall , i say , endeavour to make you the onlv return in my power by sticking as closely to the business of Grand Lodge in the future as I have done in the past . And it was with that view that I was willing to accept the office of the President of the General Board
at the hands or the present Grand Master : in short , if I may borrow a simile from legal phraseology , I shall treasure that jewel as my retainer , and thatcnp as my refresher . ( Laughter ) . There are often some things very appropriate in the song put down upon the list to follow the
toasts , but now and then the song selected is perhaps inappropriate ; and I will venture to promise that the song which will now follow will be found to be very inappropriate indeed to my future conduct— " Sleep , Gentle Lady , " I will promise
to be as distant from my intentions as it is adverse to the interests of the Order . I shall pursue as diligently as heretofore the course which appears to your interest . I thank you for the kindness with which you have received
me , and m conclusion , I assure you that amongst the most pleasant evenings of my life are those which I have passed among Mark Masters . ( Cheers . ) The tankard which which had been presented to Bro . Portal was here passed round as a loving
cap . The M . W . G . M . next proposed , " The Deputy Grand Mark Master , and the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " With regard to the Deputy - Grand Alaster , he did not believe he could have chosen one who would more efficiently discharge
his duties , or who would be more acceptable to Mark Masons in gene ' . 1 . ( Hear , hear . ) During that miserable year : " : which lie ( the Grand Alaster ) might be s i to have been in abeyance , the Deputy Grand Alaster had performed the duties of the Deputy Grand Alaster , and for a
year or two previously , and he could not help feeling that his lordship would have a claim to be their Grand Alaster instead of himself . At the same time he hoped there was a good time eominp , when the Earl of Limerick would be their Grand Alaster , and he was sure that would
be a good time for the Mark Degree : at any rate he was certain of this , that whether he himself did or did not properly lill the ollice it would not be for want of cordial , hearty , and efficient support on the part of the Deputy Grand Alaster , and the other Grand Oflicers . As in times past
they had always been read y lo give advice and assistance , to the Grand Master , so he had r , o doubt the ) ' would be found ready to aid the present occupant of the Master ' s chair . Tho Earl of Limerick in reply said : —The
M . W . G . M . a short time ago pleaded shyness in rising to respond to the toast of his health . I think 1 mi ght do the same , and naturally I should have a better right to do so , as I am constitutionally of a modest disposition and my countrymen are proverbial for it . ( Laughter . ) But
fortunatel y those with whom 1 am associated in this toast are a tower of strength , and it does not therefore require much to be said in responding to the toast of the Grand Officers , especially the Past Grand Ollicers , for what the Past Grand Officers have done for Mark Alasonrv speaks
for itself . Brethren , as has been noticed before , the Grand Ollicers , from the mode of selection , represent all phases of thought , and all portions of Mark Masonry . They do , I am sure , all that in them lies , to the best of their ability , to further the interests of our Order . It is not their
peculiar virtue to do so , . because I am sure that every brother in Mark Masonry does the very same . The M . W . G . M . has been pleased to speak very kindly of myself . I can only say that during the time that I have been connected in any way with Masonry , whether as a Mark Alaster or in
other branches ol Masonry , 1 have endeavoured always to make myself acquainted with the history—if 1 may term it , the philosophy—of Masonry , and to work to the best of my ability . I , of course , and it is an Englishman ' s privilege ,
whenever 1 have got an opinion on a subject , have stated it , and we all do the same , and I have never found that any brother hail a worse opinion of another brother for doing the same . Wc all meet together , we all know that every brother has the best interest of the Order in which he is meeting at the time at heart j we all express
Grand Mark Lodge.
our opinions , and when we meet each other afterwards , each one knows they all had the same object in view—the general good of the degree . There are , no doubt , older Mark Masons than myself present to-night . I think it is twelve , years this evening that I became a
Mark Alaster . At that time Mark Masonry was in a very different state to what it is now . You had then to look far and wide before you found an English Mark Lodge . We have now greatly altered that , owing to the zealous services of our Immediate Past Grand Master , and
following his example , I have made up my mind to do all in my power to promote in every way the best interests of English Grand Mark Lodge . ( Cheers ) . The M . W . G . M . next proposed , " •' The Provincial G . Masters , " and complimented them on their
usefulness in promoting the good of the Order . Without the Prov . Grand Lodges and their support the Grand Lodge would be as nothing . Accordingly as Mark Masonry had flourished , the creation of Provincial Grand Lodges increased . The Past Grand Master had stated in Grand Lodge ,
that during the last four years no less than nine Provincial Grand Lodges had been created under his rule in England alone . As a Provincial Grand Alaster himself , he did not like to say much on this subject , because it appeared like proposing his own health ; but he was happy to say his Denuty was present , and he was glad to
say in that province they had met with great success . ( Cheers ) . The other provinces had also been very prosperous , and it was with great p leasure he proposed the toast of " The Provincial Grand Masters . " Bro . Siek'emore responded , and after a few other toasts the brethren separated .
Dublin Masonic Female Orphan School.
DUBLIN MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL .
The June meeting of the Governors of this Institution was held at the Schoolhouse , on Tuesday morning , June 3 rd , and was numerously attended . The chair was taken by the R . W . the Deputy Grand Alaster as senior Vice-President .
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and signed , and also those of the adjourned meeting—at which was adopted the resolution of the Committee " that they could not
recommend the Board to co-operate with the Committee of the Coys' School in carrying out the proposition of securing the services of the same brother as tlie Assistant Secretary of both Schools . "
The Reports from the Several Committees of the School were submitted . From the Finance Committee ' s Report it appeared that the Receipts during the month were £ 626 . This sum included a donation of £ 100 from . Serendib Lodge , No . it j , Colombo , Ceylon . The letter enclosinsr this donation contained the
following extract from the minutes of the Lodge : — " Uro . Captain W . J . Gorman , in pursuance of notice given by him at the last meeting , said , —That in view of the Special Appeal on behalf of the Orphan Daughters of Masons whose home is established in Dublin , he would
propose that the Lodge 112 should shew its sympathy by voting a liberal sum . There was no charity more deserving , and in proportion as our sisters were weak and helpless should our aid be strong and generous . He did not wish to dictate , but hoped for an unanimous vote .
He thought one hundred pounds would not more than indicate the sympathy and good will of the brethren of Serendib Lodge , 112 . " " Brother Symons , in seconding the motion bore testimony , from personal observation , to
the merits of the Institution . " It was then unanimously agreed that £ 100 should be given , to be divided in sums of £ 10 , to qualify the Officers and Past Masters of the lodge as Life Governors of the AIasonic Female Orphan School , Dublin . "
It was then unanimously resolved—That thc best thanks of the Board be presented to the Serendib Lodge , No . 112 , Colombo , for the kind expressions of sympathy towards the School conveyed in the letter enclosing their munificent donation . The following contributions were also ac-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Mark Lodge.
must necessarily be that the Grand Alaster is not so intimately acquainted with the Grand Ollicers as he would be if he were to appoint his own personal friends ; at the same time , I believe that for the good of the Order in general , it is much more advantageous that those who reall y know the merits of brethren scattered all over the
kingdom should send up those who are eligible for office in Grand Lodge . I only say this to show that I trust to the good feeling of the brethren , as much towards the oflice I hold and to the prestige that lies upon it , and those who have held it before me , as I do to the personal
feeling which I am proud to think man ) ' of you have towards me—some of you , doubtless , it is impossible you should have , knowing , as I do , that you are almost unacquainted with your Grand Master . At the same time , J . know that you so far trust the holders of this office that you
will support them witii thc utmost cordiality . I do not think I need further dilate upon the toast which you have just drunk so kindly . I will only say one word more on this subject , that you will find in me one who will try his utmost to benefit and advance the prosperity of the Order ,
and who will give his utmost attention to consulting the wishes of the brethren in any Masonic matter . I do not want to sit down without proposing-another health , one which , lam sure , you will drink with pleasure , and that is , "The Past
Grand Masters , and especially 1 shall couple with it the name of liro . Portal . ( Cheers . ) Thc prosperity of our Order , as we have beard tonight , is unexampled in the history of Freemasonry , considerintr that we are , under our
present organisation , somewhat a new one . And 1 wish to remind you , though doubtless you do not require to be reminded of it , that that prosperity is due to our Past Grand Masters . ( Hear , hear . ) They had consistently upheld the principles of our Order , and they have never been found wanting on any occasion when the interests
of the Order required their attention or their zeal . I may say in passing that I am sorry that tliere should be none of them , except our immediate Past Grand Master , present on this occasion ; but we are rather unlucky in the
choice ot a week for our lestival when every one is taking a holiday . I will pass now to the name which I shall covple with this toast . Bro . Portal has done more , 1 will say , to raise this Order to its present position than any other Past Grand Master who has held this chair . I do not
say that in an invidious sense , because 1 believe that , luckily for himself and Mark Masonry also , he succeeded to that chair at a time when energy , tact , and strict attention to the business of Mark Masonry were more than doubly necessary than at any other in the history of our Order . He has
raised this degree to that position which will compare with any degree , not excepting the Craft at the present moment—I say not excepting the Craft , because you must look not to the number of lodges , or at the number of Masons , but whether they are gootl men and true , whether
the Order is in a flourishing condition , and whether , considering the time that has elapsed since our organisation , our Grand Lodge was started we have not made wonderful progress—when I say progress , I think the goodness of our Masons and the . soundness of our
lodge , they will compare with any other body . The M . W . P . G . M . informed you this evening of the progress which Mark Masonry had made during his tenure of office . I do not know that I can add anything to it . I can only say what he did not say , which is , that it was to him , seconded by the efforts of his officers , that that
progress is entirel y due ; and 1 can only assure all Mark Masons that they will ever find in hirn a true friend , a good Mason , and one who will readily and kindly assist them in every AIasonic and social duty ; and I speak from experience . I ask you therefore to think this toast of " The Past Grand Masters , " and especially our Immediate Past Grand Master , Bro . Portal .
The Rev . G . Raymond Portal : — I have already detained you so long in Grand Lodge that J feel I ought not to say very much more now , except I thank you for the kindness with which you have received this toast , anil to assure you that I shall endeavour to make the only return in my power for the kindness that 1 have always experienced at your hands as Grand Master , and
Grand Mark Lodge.
also for this ivagnificent present , which you made me to-night—1 shall , i say , endeavour to make you the onlv return in my power by sticking as closely to the business of Grand Lodge in the future as I have done in the past . And it was with that view that I was willing to accept the office of the President of the General Board
at the hands or the present Grand Master : in short , if I may borrow a simile from legal phraseology , I shall treasure that jewel as my retainer , and thatcnp as my refresher . ( Laughter ) . There are often some things very appropriate in the song put down upon the list to follow the
toasts , but now and then the song selected is perhaps inappropriate ; and I will venture to promise that the song which will now follow will be found to be very inappropriate indeed to my future conduct— " Sleep , Gentle Lady , " I will promise
to be as distant from my intentions as it is adverse to the interests of the Order . I shall pursue as diligently as heretofore the course which appears to your interest . I thank you for the kindness with which you have received
me , and m conclusion , I assure you that amongst the most pleasant evenings of my life are those which I have passed among Mark Masters . ( Cheers . ) The tankard which which had been presented to Bro . Portal was here passed round as a loving
cap . The M . W . G . M . next proposed , " The Deputy Grand Mark Master , and the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " With regard to the Deputy - Grand Alaster , he did not believe he could have chosen one who would more efficiently discharge
his duties , or who would be more acceptable to Mark Masons in gene ' . 1 . ( Hear , hear . ) During that miserable year : " : which lie ( the Grand Alaster ) might be s i to have been in abeyance , the Deputy Grand Alaster had performed the duties of the Deputy Grand Alaster , and for a
year or two previously , and he could not help feeling that his lordship would have a claim to be their Grand Alaster instead of himself . At the same time he hoped there was a good time eominp , when the Earl of Limerick would be their Grand Alaster , and he was sure that would
be a good time for the Mark Degree : at any rate he was certain of this , that whether he himself did or did not properly lill the ollice it would not be for want of cordial , hearty , and efficient support on the part of the Deputy Grand Alaster , and the other Grand Oflicers . As in times past
they had always been read y lo give advice and assistance , to the Grand Master , so he had r , o doubt the ) ' would be found ready to aid the present occupant of the Master ' s chair . Tho Earl of Limerick in reply said : —The
M . W . G . M . a short time ago pleaded shyness in rising to respond to the toast of his health . I think 1 mi ght do the same , and naturally I should have a better right to do so , as I am constitutionally of a modest disposition and my countrymen are proverbial for it . ( Laughter . ) But
fortunatel y those with whom 1 am associated in this toast are a tower of strength , and it does not therefore require much to be said in responding to the toast of the Grand Officers , especially the Past Grand Ollicers , for what the Past Grand Officers have done for Mark Alasonrv speaks
for itself . Brethren , as has been noticed before , the Grand Ollicers , from the mode of selection , represent all phases of thought , and all portions of Mark Masonry . They do , I am sure , all that in them lies , to the best of their ability , to further the interests of our Order . It is not their
peculiar virtue to do so , . because I am sure that every brother in Mark Masonry does the very same . The M . W . G . M . has been pleased to speak very kindly of myself . I can only say that during the time that I have been connected in any way with Masonry , whether as a Mark Alaster or in
other branches ol Masonry , 1 have endeavoured always to make myself acquainted with the history—if 1 may term it , the philosophy—of Masonry , and to work to the best of my ability . I , of course , and it is an Englishman ' s privilege ,
whenever 1 have got an opinion on a subject , have stated it , and we all do the same , and I have never found that any brother hail a worse opinion of another brother for doing the same . Wc all meet together , we all know that every brother has the best interest of the Order in which he is meeting at the time at heart j we all express
Grand Mark Lodge.
our opinions , and when we meet each other afterwards , each one knows they all had the same object in view—the general good of the degree . There are , no doubt , older Mark Masons than myself present to-night . I think it is twelve , years this evening that I became a
Mark Alaster . At that time Mark Masonry was in a very different state to what it is now . You had then to look far and wide before you found an English Mark Lodge . We have now greatly altered that , owing to the zealous services of our Immediate Past Grand Master , and
following his example , I have made up my mind to do all in my power to promote in every way the best interests of English Grand Mark Lodge . ( Cheers ) . The M . W . G . M . next proposed , " •' The Provincial G . Masters , " and complimented them on their
usefulness in promoting the good of the Order . Without the Prov . Grand Lodges and their support the Grand Lodge would be as nothing . Accordingly as Mark Masonry had flourished , the creation of Provincial Grand Lodges increased . The Past Grand Master had stated in Grand Lodge ,
that during the last four years no less than nine Provincial Grand Lodges had been created under his rule in England alone . As a Provincial Grand Alaster himself , he did not like to say much on this subject , because it appeared like proposing his own health ; but he was happy to say his Denuty was present , and he was glad to
say in that province they had met with great success . ( Cheers ) . The other provinces had also been very prosperous , and it was with great p leasure he proposed the toast of " The Provincial Grand Masters . " Bro . Siek'emore responded , and after a few other toasts the brethren separated .
Dublin Masonic Female Orphan School.
DUBLIN MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL .
The June meeting of the Governors of this Institution was held at the Schoolhouse , on Tuesday morning , June 3 rd , and was numerously attended . The chair was taken by the R . W . the Deputy Grand Alaster as senior Vice-President .
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and signed , and also those of the adjourned meeting—at which was adopted the resolution of the Committee " that they could not
recommend the Board to co-operate with the Committee of the Coys' School in carrying out the proposition of securing the services of the same brother as tlie Assistant Secretary of both Schools . "
The Reports from the Several Committees of the School were submitted . From the Finance Committee ' s Report it appeared that the Receipts during the month were £ 626 . This sum included a donation of £ 100 from . Serendib Lodge , No . it j , Colombo , Ceylon . The letter enclosinsr this donation contained the
following extract from the minutes of the Lodge : — " Uro . Captain W . J . Gorman , in pursuance of notice given by him at the last meeting , said , —That in view of the Special Appeal on behalf of the Orphan Daughters of Masons whose home is established in Dublin , he would
propose that the Lodge 112 should shew its sympathy by voting a liberal sum . There was no charity more deserving , and in proportion as our sisters were weak and helpless should our aid be strong and generous . He did not wish to dictate , but hoped for an unanimous vote .
He thought one hundred pounds would not more than indicate the sympathy and good will of the brethren of Serendib Lodge , 112 . " " Brother Symons , in seconding the motion bore testimony , from personal observation , to
the merits of the Institution . " It was then unanimously agreed that £ 100 should be given , to be divided in sums of £ 10 , to qualify the Officers and Past Masters of the lodge as Life Governors of the AIasonic Female Orphan School , Dublin . "
It was then unanimously resolved—That thc best thanks of the Board be presented to the Serendib Lodge , No . 112 , Colombo , for the kind expressions of sympathy towards the School conveyed in the letter enclosing their munificent donation . The following contributions were also ac-